Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.

Los Angeles is a considerable paradise for many, and—aside from the traffic—you won't find us complaining much about living in this city full sunshine, palm trees, endless shopping opportunities, and prime potential for juicy celeb sightings. That said, even devoted Angelenos need to get away from it all every now and again, and often that means opting for a location with a comparatively slowed-down place and a change of scenery different from the landscape within our own backyard. Luckily our Golden State has no shortage of such spots just a quick drive away.

Previously we've shown you our curated lists for staying and playing in Catalina, Ojai, and San Luis Obispo, and when we vacationed in the latter, we found a treasure trove of little stops along the 101 highway that were worthy of their own separate vacation, which is why we've created this map of decidedly dreamy destinations that—in our humble opinion—would make a quintessentially Californian road trip.

We explored the Central Coast stretch starting with a southern pit stop in chill Ventura and heading as north as wine-hub Paso Robles (omitting aforementioned SLO). Read on to find our highlights including a stylish surf shop, the modern motel where LA loves to get away, a place to score cool collectibles and vintage goods, and even one of the state's most breathtaking beaches.